John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 2024 Picks

By Jarrod Horak

The road to Kentucky Derby 2024 continues at Turfway Park on Saturday, March 2, and I have included John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 2024 picks below. The non-graded event for 3-year-olds has a $150,000 purse and the full field of entrants will be journeying 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track. The Battaglia Memorial is the 6th race on March 2 and the top five finishers will earn Kentucky Derby points (20-10-6-4-2). 

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 2024 Picks

Gettysburg Address was too keen early in the Street Sense (G3) in the slop in October, and he weakened to fourth after setting the pace. He had an uncomfortable start and missed the place and show by a neck in the Smarty Jones on Jan. 1, and finished an even fourth as the beaten favorite in an optional-claiming race on god ground at Oaklawn on Jan. 28. Brad Cox’s Constitution colt is a tad interesting if he handles the all-weather surface. 

Bolt At Midnight added lasix and missed by a neck in a local flat mile maiden race on Jan. 12, and was strong on the front end in a 4 3/4 length victory as the favorite on Feb. 9. Martin Garcia hops aboard the Bolt d’Oro colt and he might be the one to catch. 

Epic Ride smartly earned his diploma in a local maiden sprint on Jan. 5, and stretched out and easily handled a flat mile in the Leonatus Stakes on Feb. 2. The $160k Blame colt should make his presence felt from the outset. 

Blue Eyed George won two turf routes last year, and stalked the pace and was second best in his Leonatus return on Feb. 2. He might go a bit better in his second start after a layoff. 

Encino is a promising Nyquist colt for Brad Cox. He overcame a tardy beginning from post 10 to miss by a neck in his local flat mile bow as the favorite late last year. He was the chalk again on Jan. 26, and he controlled the pace and was best by a half-length at this course and distance. He will have to overcome a wide post in this spot. 

The Battaglia Memorial field also includes Ode to Balius, Mr. Faversham, Fidget, Break Out, Mission Ready, Good Bali, Mugatu, and also-eligibles Karlwithanarl and Katheeb.  

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 2024 Picks

The Battaglia Memorial is my 24th video on the road to Kentucky Derby 2024, and my top choices have seven wins, four runner-up finishes, and five show finishes. I will cover each points race on the Kentucky Derby trail. Check out my John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 2024 picks video below.